Stories for June 6th 2017

Opening a “game-changing” international conference on the health of the world’s oceans and seas, top United Nations officials urged on Monday coordinated global action to protect the planet. Speaking in the UN General Assembly Hall, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned Governments that unless they overcome short-term territorial and resource interests, the state of the oceans will continue to deteriorate.

A trial has begun in South Dakota over a meat processer's claim that it was defamed by ABC News reporting that dubbed its product pink slime. Beef Products Inc (BPI) argues ABC and its journalist ruined its reputation in 2012 reports on lean finely textured beef, as the industry calls it.

On World Environment Day, which is observed on 5 June every year, United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres urged everyone to ''cherish the planet that protect us''. In a video message, Connecting people to Nature, uploaded on YouTube, Guterres said, Without a healthy environment we can't end poverty or build prosperity. We all have a role to play in protecting our only home.

Brazilian media are reporting late Monday that the country's federal police have asked embattled President Michel Temer 84 questions related to an investigation of corruption allegations against him. Temer has faced growing calls to resign amid the scandal. He has 24 hours to reply to the questions delivered Monday afternoon.

The boss of British Airways' parent company says that human error caused an IT meltdown that led to travel chaos for 75,000 passengers. Willie Walsh. chief executive of IAG, said an engineer disconnected a power supply, with the major damage caused by a surge when it was reconnected. He said there would now be an independent investigation to learn from the experience.

Qatari planes are to be banned from Egyptian and Saudi air space, as a growing diplomatic row in the Gulf threatens large-scale air disruption. Several countries have cut ties with the tiny Gulf state over accusations of supporting extremism in the region.